By Abigail David
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it recognises the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark and has accepted candidate nominations submitted by the faction for the 2027 general election.
INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna told The Press that the commission granted the Mark-led leadership access to its nomination portal following a Supreme Court judgment affirming its leadership of the party.
According to Haruna, the recognised faction has submitted candidates for 471 elective positions, including two presidential candidates, 109 senatorial seats and 360 House of Representatives constituencies.
He added that the rival faction was not granted access to the portal, stating that INEC’s decision was based on the Supreme Court ruling.
Meanwhile, the ADC has called for an investigation into claims by a rival factional leader, Nafiu Bala, that he uploaded the party’s candidates through INEC’s nomination portal. In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the party welcomed INEC’s clarification that only the Mark-led National Executive Committee was recognised and urged law enforcement agencies to investigate what it described as false claims.
Haruna also said INEC would study the Certified True Copy of a recent Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership dispute before taking any position on its implications.
The Court of Appeal recently upheld a Federal High Court judgment restraining INEC from recognising ADC state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the Mark-led leadership. However, the ADC maintains that the ruling relates only to state congresses and does not affect the validity of its candidate nominations for the 2027 elections.
